Formula 1 rookie Mick Schumacher in a Ferrari – like Papa Michael once did. A dream for the 22-year-old and millions of F1 fans. One that Mick will be one step closer to as early as 2022. Because: Schumacher officially rises to the substitute driver at the Scuderia from Maranello, as Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto reveals in the “RTL” interview.
“Mick will be the reserve driver for Ferrari, just like Antonio Giovinazzi. Antonio will be the reserve driver in some races, if he is not there it will be Mick,” said Binotto.
To be more precise: Schumacher will replace Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at eleven race weekends. In other words, if one of the regular drivers is injured or ill, Schumacher may be driving a Formula 1 race in a Ferrari next year.
The 2020 season showed how fast this can go in Corona times, when Nico Hülkenberg stepped in twice for the regular drivers who had Covid for the then Racing Point team. The reason for Schumacher’s mini “promotion” is obvious for the Reds’ team boss.
“He’s a Ferrari driver, he belongs to the Ferrari Driver Academy, he did well with Haas, all of the 2022 season,” said Binotto. And: “The cars in 2022 will be significantly different compared to 2021 in terms of driving style. He will of course drive in Formula 1, so he will be used to these new cars. For us even more important: Whenever we need him, he will be prepared be driving a Ferrari. “
Scuderia is looking for the next Ferrari driver
Schumacher was “very happy” with his new role, said Binotto. As a member of the Ferrari Junior Academy, the team from Maranello supports him all season anyway – even when Mick is doing his regular job at Haas.
“He drives for Haas, but we always support him, coach him wherever we can. We have engineers who analyze his data and his driving, because the ultimate goal of the Ferrari Driver Academy is to find the next driver for Ferrari “emphasized the Italian. “It is therefore important for us to always support and help him.”
“He learns, he grows and develops as a driver”
In the summer of the “RTL” interview, Binotto had opened the door for a Schumacher future in red rhetorically cautiously a crack.
“Could be,” said the Scuderia capo when asked whether Mick could be a candidate for the Ferrari cockpit in 2023. The prerequisite is always that Schumacher perform and develop positively. And that, according to Binotto, the 22-year-old did last season
did.
“At the end of the year he was faster than at the beginning of the season, he was much closer to the other cars in front of him. He is making progress, that was the goal at the beginning of the season. Mick knew what we expected from him. he is growing and developing as a driver. He does. If you look at the last few years, Mick has always been very good in the second half of the season, and that was also the case in Formula 1. We believe that he will be even better in the future. “
Talks with Sainz in winter
Mick in Ferrari in 2023? It won’t be easy, that’s for sure. Ferrari currently has two top drivers, Leclerc and Sainz. Leclerc has a contract until 2024, Sainz’s working paper expires at the end of 2022. The Spaniard, however, impressed with strong performances in the past season and even ended up ahead of his highly regarded stable rival in the drivers’ championship.
Binotto announced in the RTL interview that he wanted to talk to Sainz “in winter” about his “future” – but without being specific
.
ttn-9